Philippines Scam Centers, US Migration, Lebanon on the Brink, and More
The latest at Inkstick Media.
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In a letter and plea for restraint, Dr. Tania Babin breaks down the ways the threat of a full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel have compounded the hardships Lebanese people and the refugees in the country are already facing.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has increasingly endured aggression at the hands of Beijing, especially at sea. Yet, as Michael E. Picard writes, the potential threats posed by scam centers inside the country have also left Manila concerned over national security.
In this week’s “Deep Dive” column, Inkstick newsletter author Emily Tamkin takes a look at a new paper that examines how war impacts civilians’ displays of loyalty on social media.
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“The US Should Become a Leader on Humane Migration Solutions” by Anika Forrest (Sept. 3)
Migration is the legacy of the United States, with a promise of refuge to individuals yearning to breathe free in a new home. The US is abandoning that core commitment, but it can still change course and lead the world with conviction on proven humane migration solutions.
“China, Scam Centers, and National Security in the Philippines” by Michael E. Picard (Sept. 4)
Chinese actions against the Philippines’s sea vessels are becoming increasingly aggressive, raising fears of an armed conflict between the two countries that could pull in the United States. Meanwhile, a more subtle national security threat is playing out in the Philippines itself.
“What Would a Harris Presidency Mean for the Philippines?” by Thomas J. Shattuck (Sept. 4)
While much of Southeast Asia gets lost in Washington’s focus on competition with China, some of the countries that were part of Kamala Harris’s portfolio, namely the Philippines, have assumed roles as some of the most critical foreign policy issues for the United States.
“Lebanon on the Brink” by Dr. Tania Baban (Sept. 5)
Hezbollah and Israel’s escalating conflict has turned southern Lebanon into a battleground. Over 100,000 people have been displaced. The hostilities have forced the closure of hospitals, clinics, and schools — and fear is gripping the entire nation.
“The ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ in a Time of Genocide” by William J. Astore (Sept. 5)
Vast levels of destruction visited upon this planet by two world wars left an opening for Washington to attempt to dominate everywhere. Hence, the roughly 750 overseas bases its military set up to ensure its ultimate global reach.
“Deep Dive: Tweeting at War” by Emily Tamkin (Sept. 6)
In a new paper, authors Anita R. Gohdes and Zachary C. Steinert-Threlkeld examine “civilian behavior on social media during war.” Research, they write, emphasizes the ability to express shared grievances. But active conflict changes things, and posts indicating loyalties can put civilians at risk.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.
Photo: A photo shows the destruction wrought by the Syrian civil war in the city of Daraa in 2022 (Mahmoud Sulaiman/Unsplash)